Diane wrote:For Julie...a pic of E. symmetrica x obesa. This was a rogue seedling that popped up in another pot - the parents could only be E. symmetrica (female) and obesa (male) as they were the only ones flowering at the time.

I would defy anyone to distinguish it from either parent they look so similar. As Brian says, it has no particular merit apart from one of curiosity!

IMG_1556 (800x600).jpg

Well going by your image Diane this would pass for a typical E.obesa as I can only see one flowering point per rib.

Julie wrote:Saschi, an obesa/symm hybrid sounds great. Have you got a picture?

Sorry Julie, but I can't imagine this cross having any particular merit apart from scientific. These plants are too similar and hybridising would just muddy their distinction. Releasing such crosses amoungst the succulent growing community would only add to confusion - something which I believe already exists as far as the majority of multi-headed 'obesa' that come up for sale are concerned !The thing that I would be interested in would be the number of flowering points that the offspring would have. This is the only accurate distinction between obesa and symmetrica. obesa has a single flowering point whereas symmetrica has a cluster of three!

Hi Tony, I realise the website has nothing to do with you, but the plants shown in the link you posted surprised me. They show two very distinct forms, one thick and tall what appears to have male flowers and the other which is very reminiscent of mammillaris showing a thin plant with female flowers. Which of the plants is 'William Denton'? Has the name been given to one particular plant or to the crossing of E.obesa with E. mammillaris? Having made many crosses of E.obesa and E.mammillaris and then subsequently back crossing F2 and F3 plants I am disappointed that such a simple cross could achieve the position of being named and goes to show how eager people are to name things. If the name was given to a specific plant there is obviously some misunderstanding on the website you linked to as all the plants I have ever raised from these crosses were single sex and therefore I find a breeding pair of 'William Denton' most unlikely!

georged wrote:Also I have a female Symmetrica bought as a named plant from Toobees which to date has only produced single flowers. Does this mean I should not call my seedlings Symmetrica?

Hi, I think many people make the mistake thinking that symmetrica is more striped or banded than obesa - this is not the case. It is possible to get beautifully marked obesa. true symmetricas are much rarer ( and therefore potentially more valuable) than obesa so I would not be surprised if single symmetricas in collections have been frequently pollinated with obesa and perhaps the seed passed off as symmetrica.

I have some really old (and looking it) symmetricas in my collection, so I thought I'd take some pictures to show the multiple flowers. Problem is they are not growing much yet, but I think you can just about see from this shot, flower buds usually in threes. You may need to click to enlarge the picture to see better.

From what I read symmetrica has a more strongly developed tap root, apart from the main distinguishing fact about the solitary inflourescence on obesa versus the multiple ones on symmertrica.I was amused by Dyer's observation that obesa is normally higher than thick and symmetrica is normally thicker than high - bit of a generalisation but true.

MattJoined online Member number 49972. Bradford Branch.Interests include South American cacti and spiny Euphorbias

dalesmatt wrote:From what I read symmetrica has a more strongly developed tap root, apart from the main distinguishing fact about the solitary inflourescence on obesa versus the multiple ones on symmertrica.I was amused by Dyer's observation that obesa is normally higher than thick and symmetrica is normally thicker than high - bit of a generalisation but true.

I recall a photo in the journal a couple of years ago of two symmetrica which were columnar so with age that observation is not true.

GeorgeUckfield, East Sussex. Small but varied collection of cacti, succulents and a few others.